T05 · Unauthorized Access and Privilege Escalation
Error
- Location
SKILL.md:389- Finding
Fail-Open Approval Timeout Permits Transactions Without Affirmative Authorization
- Content
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5000 OR new_vendor = true" action: - Send an approval request through Slack/email - Include: summary, amount, context, approve/reject buttons - Deadline: 24 hours on_approve: continue_workflow on_reject: notify_requestor_with_reason on_timeout: - Escalate to a superior - Or: automatically approve when amount < 10000 ``` The snippet is an English rendering of the original workflow template while preserving its logic and thresholds. ### Technical Analysis The approval gate uses fail-open behavior: a transaction that initially requires human review can be approved solely because the approval request times out. A timeout does not demonstrate authorization and may result from an unavailable approver, message-delivery failure, routing error, notification suppression, or intentional delay. The rule also creates inconsistent authorization boundaries. Transactions over 5,000 and transactions involving new vendors require approval initially, but transactions below 10,000 may later bypass that requirement without an affirmative decision. Because this project is an instructional Skill rather than an executable implementation, the issue affects workflows generated or configured according to this template. No evidence was found that the repository itself directly executes a transaction. ### Attack Path 1. An attacker or untrusted requester submits a transaction that triggers manager review, such as a new-vendor transaction below 10,000. 2. The workflow sends an approval request and waits for 24 hours. 3. The attacker waits for expiration or attempts to cause the approval request to be overlooked, delayed, suppressed, or misrouted. 4. The timeout branch is reached wit ...[truncated 954 chars]- Remediation
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